Newport-Mesans aid Gulf Coast

Four Newport Beach firefighters left Orange County on Tuesday for a

30-day assignment on the hurricane-ravaged Gulf Coast, not yet

knowing where they will be deployed or what they might encounter when

they get there.

En route to the San Diego airport, where they boarded a flight to

Atlanta, the firefighters’ voices carried a note of nervous

excitement.

“We’re prepared for the worst, but we’re ready for it,” Capt. Ron

Gutierrez said.

His partner, Fire Engineer Jim Jeziorski, concurred.

“It’s a big adventure,” Jeziorski said.

Gutierrez and Jeziorski were joined by Capt. Chip Duncan and

Firefighter Nic Lucas.

The firefighters know little about what to expect once they arrive

in Atlanta. They will take part in one day of training and receive

necessary vaccinations, and after that, anything’s possible,

Gutierrez said.

“We don’t know what we’re going to get into,” Jeziorski said.

“We figured it was a once-in-a-lifetime deal,” Gutierrez said.

“We’re in the business for helping people, and they definitely need

of a lot of help.”

The Federal Emergency Management Agency put out a call to

California fire agencies last week, requesting 1,000 teams of two

firefighters to volunteer to assist in recovery efforts in areas

devastated by Hurricane Katrina.

Before sending volunteers, Newport Fire had to ensure it could

first meet local needs, Gutierrez said.

“This is right in the middle of our brush season,” Gutierrez said.

Battalion Chief Ralph Restadius said the department will maintain

mandatory staffing levels, even with several teams deployed in the

Gulf area.

“Our stations are still fully staffed and manned,” Restadius said.

Thirty firefighters from Newport volunteered; the department sent

two teams Tuesday, and it is prepared to send more firefighters if

needed.

Newport Fire Capt. Robert Masonis traveled to Biloxi, Miss., Aug.

30 as part of a FEMA rescue team. Masonis calls in and reports to

Restadius every day.

Days ago, Masonis told Restadius that his rescue team had come

across a community of more than 400 people who had banded together to

survive the storm.

“They have been rescuing a lot of people,” Restadius said.

When the call for service came in, Gutierrez discussed it with his

wife and decided it was an opportunity he couldn’t pass up. Gutierrez

has three young children and said his oldest will have to carry more

responsibility while he’s gone.

“I don’t think they quite grasp how long it’s going to be,”

Gutierrez said.

Jeziorski said his wife is “a little upset,” but she understands

that it’s important for him to go.

“She’s going to hold down the fort for the next month,” Jeziorski

said.

* LAUREN VANE covers public safety and courts. She may be reached

at (714) 966-4618 or by e-mail at lauren.vaneo7@latimes.comf7.